In our ever-accelerating world of super-smartphone technology and our wholehearted embrace of acronym-heavy texts, it sometimes feels like actual conversation has become a lost art, destined to go the way of mix tapes and phone books. We substitute đ and the ubiquitous đđŒ, when what we really mean is: âIf my message upset you, I was really just kidding (sort of),â and âI agree with you but also want to end this conversation without being rude.â
While convenient, texts and emails canât take the place of regular, back-and-forth, in-person dialogue. As specific as theyâve become, emojis will never convey the nuanced expressions we get from actual faces and voices.
The need to connect
Humans are hardwired to connect with other humansâin deeper ways than technology permits. In Psychology Today, Aaron Ben-ZeĂ©n, PhD, references a landmark study by researchers Roy Baumeister and Mark Leary, which concluded:
â⊠the need to belong is a fundamental human need to form and maintain ⊠lasting, positive, and significant interpersonal relationships.â
We couldnât agree more.
Real people, real relationships
At MVP Law, building real relationships is fundamental to our core beliefs. We believe the most successful client relationships are built on trust. After all, clients hire attorneys to represent their interests, to literally stand up for them on truly important matters. That kind of trust is impossible to build with ones and zeroes. Showing up, answering the call, meeting our clientsâ needs, time and time againâthatâs how we earn their trust.
To us, there are three qualities that make up real relationships:
- They are personal. Show them who you really are. To build trust and grow the relationship, clients need to connect with you on a personal and professional level.
- They are meaningful. Invest the time to develop deep understanding with your clients. Demonstrate youâre in it for the long-term.
- They are fulfilling. Strive to satisfy. Reward your clients by delivering on your commitments.
Underpinning it all: consistent, transparent communication, accountability and authenticity. These are the hallmarks of great attorney-client relationships.
Building confidence through better understanding
While we stand behind our 118 years of legal experience and knowledge â and weâre especially proud of our legal results â we know our clients come back to us again and again because of the relationship and trust that exists. Weâve earned that trust by understanding their needs, anticipating their challenges and addressing them head-on. Whether itâs a workersâ compensation suit or a school employment law case, we never forget we represent real people facing real problems.
While plenty of innovative tech solutions are transforming the legal industry, allowing us to more quickly communicate with clients and improve our efficiencies, weâre also reminded of the indelible power of the personal relationship. Weâve seen firsthand how that process of relationship-building has allowed us to provide even better service to our clients. Across all 180 employees and 65 attorneys, weâve prioritized those personal interactions so we can better understand our client objectives and enhance our problem-solving skills to deliver results.
Itâs not just us who benefit from these relationships. Our clients choose us for the unique blend of energy, sense of humor and high degree of integrity with which we serve them each and every day.
You just canât replace that with đ€Łđđ€.
Phillip Sanders is chief operating officer at MVP Law, a law firm specializing in workersâ comp, general liability and employment law. Founded in 1901 and serving the Midwest, the MVP attorneys are attentive, knowledgeable and ready to find the options you never knew you had. Share your thoughts on our Facebook page or on Twitter @MVPLaw.
